National Geographic Magazine (established Washington, D.C., 1888)
The Oldest Living Thing, 1916
Printed ink on paper mounted on board, 64.8 x 26.7 cm (25 1/2 x 10 1/2 in.)
The focus of this photograph, which is printed in green ink on tan paper, is a massive fir tree seen from the perspective of a person standing at ground level. The bark of the lower third of the trunk is very rough and in sunlight. Pine needles are visible on the branches at the top third. There is low green foliage in the foreground and several smaller pine trees to our right and left. Across the bottom is typed text describing this tree as ‘The Oldest Living Thing”.
Macknight Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.